Lords to question French Ambassador on rights of EU citizens post-Brexit
The House of Lords EU Justice Sub-Committee, under the Chairmanship of Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws, will continue its short inquiry into the consequences of Brexit for the rights currently enjoyed by EU nationals in the UK, and the rights of UK nationals in other Member States, on Tuesday 25 October. The Committee will hear evidence from the French Ambassador to the UK and Lord Howard of Lympne CH QC.
There is a lot of uncertainty about the rights of EU citizens in the UK as the UK contemplates its exit from the EU. Lord Howard has been clear in saying that their rights should not become “bargaining chips” in the negotiations, but some fear they will be.
This session provides the Committee with an opportunity to examine further what a fair deal for both EU nationals living in the UK and British citizens in the EU could look like. The French Ambassador has high-level experience of EU negotiations and Lord Howard is a former leader of the Conservative Party and was a prominent supporter of Brexit.
At 10:45am the Committee will hear evidence from:
- HE Madame Sylvie Bermann, The Ambassador of France
The Committee is likely to ask:
- What concerns have your nationals living in the UK communicated to the staff of the French Embassy about the UK's departure from the EU?
- Would you wish to see the UK adopt legislation granting all lawfully resident French nationals in the UK a permanent right to reside once the UK leaves the EU?
- Will the French Government be likely to reciprocate the rights guaranteed for French nationals in the UK for UK nationals in France?
At 11:30am the Committee will hear evidence from:
- The Rt Hon Lord Howard of Lympne CH QC
The Committee is likely to ask:
- Should the Government give cast-iron guarantees now to give greater certainty to EU citizens in the UK?
- Which EU rights do you think the Government should guarantee?
- Should these EU rights should be frozen on exit, or should they continue to evolve, and which courts should interpret them?
The House of Lords EU Committee and its six Sub-Committees are conducting a coordinated series of short inquiries looking at the key issues that will arise in the forthcoming negotiations on Brexit. Taken as a whole, this programme of work will be the most extensive and thorough parliamentary scrutiny of Brexit.
The evidence session will take place at 10:45am on Tuesday 25 October in Committee Room 3 of the House of Lords.
